The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1887-02-01

| office Of the School Trustees OF tho
Public School fund, and believing that
it would meet the approval Of the ma-
jority concerned in the poor and DubiIc
schools, would respectfully recommend
that the people Of each and every town
| ship elect three School Trustees tn serve
for two years (or a longer period If de-
Sired) or the primary system, subject to
the ratification Of the Board Of Exam
inerS.
We confess we are unable to under
stand what the School Commissioner
means by the "majority concerned in the
poor ant public Schools" Does the
word poor refer to q class Of people.
or does it modify schools? If the former
is the right interpretation, is it meant
for clap-trap? IL the latter is the me-, it
is a huniliating confession to come froiH
the head Of our schools, for n stream is
not supposed to rise higher than it's
source.
Has Capt. Cowan q lcaec for life upon
the office Of School Commissioner? 1t
would seem so, when he tells the people
they may elect trustees "to serve for
two years (or a longer period If de-
sired)." We would like to know where
he gets his lease, and think it will be
news to the voters Of this county to
learn that such things are manurac-
turcd.
Without discussing the merits Of the
above proposition. it is natural to sup
pose that the people thought the School
Commissioner was in earnest when he
offered to give up to them one Of his
p~rerogativcs. Acting upon this, cleo
tons were held in various townships.
In most cases we believe those chosen
ut the election were appointed. In the
case Of White Hall township, however,
the School Commissioner hasSsthought
proper TO disregard altogether the wishes
to be indignant at it.. We know the
people Of this township to lie as good
citizens and MS capable Of determining
for :hcmselvess.whn shall manage their
public school fund aS, any IN the county.
Why then should Capt. Cowan openly
insult the intelligence Of these people
by refusing to confirm their nomination?
Is it b,causn.twp Of !hem.were trustees
under his predecessor? And is he afraid
the much talked-o: school on the east
side Of Hard Labor creek will,.-not be
opened if he continues them in office?
1t seems to us that this WAS the very
issue upon which the old trustees run.
and IL majority Of the voters approved
their course. Will the dictator force
his school upon them anyhow? We
suppose he will. We do not understand
Capt. Cowan's object in this matter. His
whole course is uneXplainahle. Surely
he is above pursuing a policy merely for
the sake of popularity. Did he think
that the measure would be pleasing to
the people, and that only those who
agreed with him in school matters would
be elected? II so he has made u griev-
Gus mistake. If he did not expect to
hoioC ny III iCSulLS VI lie tlcClloIl liz
ordered, he has been guilty of making
those who acted upon his suggestions
play Il magnificent farce, which we inn
agine they will not relish much. If his
object was 20 keep tie discussion of this
White Hall school out Of his admins
tration, he has adopted a queer policy,
by appointing as trustee the only MEM
Der Of the old board who favored it,
and the man who was the most active
partisan opponent of the action of the
old board. A queer way, it strikes US,
Of keeping down the strife. Indeed, his
actions bristlc with the appearance Of
rewards to his partisan supporters. ITO
the victors belong the spoils'' was Jack
sons doctrine, but he was a man of iron
nerve, and the times were different then
from what they are now.
Capt. Cowan may be able to explain
this insult to the intelligence Of the peo-
pie, and we hope that he can; but upon
the facts, as in our possession, we be-
lieve they will not forget it soon. We
think the insult is greater than the i'm
aginarg reflection cast upon "white rent
ers,'' which was such a theme for dis
c~ussion.
We publish a very interesting article
TO farmers. from the .4ugaStn Ehr0ni-